In late March 2025, İntrotema attended the Manga-Comic-Con alongside the Leipzig Book Fair from March 27-30 in Leipzig, Germany. This blend of literature, graphic art, and fandom offered opportunities for rights, partnerships, and cross-cultural storytelling.
The fair welcomed around 296,000 visitors and over 2,040 exhibitors from 45 countries, hosting 2,800 events. Integration with Manga-Comic-Con brought manga, comics, and cosplay halls, creating a lively, visually rich atmosphere. Norway was guest of honor with programs highlighting authors, illustrators, and children’s and YA literature. Manga Issho, a new pan-European manga magazine, and the first Cosplay Performance Championship Germany were key highlights.
For İntrotema, the goals were:
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Present our portfolio of fiction, children’s, and comics/graphic rights.
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Meet editors and creators interested in cross-media collaborations.
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Explore translation and licensing in German, English, and other European markets.
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Track trends in manga, webtoons, and fandom-driven publishing.
Meetings with German, Nordic, and independent publishers explored co-editions, translated one-shots, and graphic memoirs. A key insight: publishers seek hybrid formats that blend comics and literary storytelling. Digital, audio, and interactive platforms, often AI-driven, are increasingly shaping the market. Fan engagement and cosplay also boost visibility and sales.
The Taiwanese presence, including artists Honey Chen and BliSS, highlighted growing interest in Asian comics and cross-cultural rights deals. Leipzig’s mix of public energy and trade focus offered a rare chance to connect with both fans and editors.
Leipzig 2025 reaffirmed the value of bridging literature and illustration and exploring new markets. We left inspired, with promising leads and ideas for future rights projects.